P.E.I. Restaurants: 13 Yummy Spots That Beg For A Trip To The Island

According to recent reports, P.E.I. is being left off of some maps. That’s a crime in and of itself but it’s even more insulting when you realize just how many great restaurants are packed onto the tiny island.

Prince Edward Island is known for its potatoes and lobster but that’s just the beginning of the great local offerings you can sample at restaurants running the gamut from quaint beachside fish shacks to hip gastro experiences.

What else will you find? Think oysters, scallops, mussels, and clams freshly plucked from the sea, along with other great seafood like halibut, salmon and crab. Sample locally raised beef and pork, and eat vegetables grown on the island’s prime farmland. And finish your meal with dessert topped with local wild berries.

Best of all, the island’s small size — it’ll take you just two and a half hours to drive clear across, from Murray River to Tignish — means you could conceivably try every single one of these 13 great restaurants in a single trip. (Keep in mind that many restaurants and other businesses on the island operate seasonally. Prices listed are often based on 2016 season menus, and the cost of items like fresh seafood can change frequently.)

A post shared by The Inn at Bay Fortune (@innatbayfortune) on Sep 6, 2016 at 2:23pm PDT

Location: Bay Fortune

Type of food: Much of it comes from the organic farm and herb gardens on site, and the rest is sourced from local producers. The Food Network’s Chef Michael Smith filmed his first cooking show here.

On the menu: The evening begins with the interactive Oyster Hour at 6 p.m. and moves into a feast of local treats served family style.

Price Point: $125 per guest for the dining experience.

The vibe: Part of the five-star Inn at Bay Fortune, the vibe is upscale but quaint. Your experience extends far beyond the dining room thanks to the tour of the gardens and grounds and the visit to the fire pit.

A post shared by Hopyard (@hopyardbeerbar) on Nov 23, 2016 at 3:38pm PST

Location: Charlottetown

Type of food: It’s really more about the beer here, with the best collection of craft brews on the island. But you’ll also find a frequently changing menu with international inspiration and an in-house turntable and record collection.

On the menu: It changes every two weeks but right now the menu features a Turkish delight burrito, shishtaouk ribs, and Persian fried rice.

Price Point: Small plates for $8 each, or all-meat or all-veg platters for $53.

The vibe: Hip, which the craft beer and vinyl should make obvious. But like the rest of P.E.I., still cozy and unpretentious.